When former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was ousted in the wake of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, Soh marched with him as protestors took to the streets in Malaysia. Yet, Soh was trusted by Daim Zainuddin, former finance minister and close confidant of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Photo of Nicholas Ng: The Edge Singapore
In his earlier testimony, John Soh Chee Wen told the court even as he struggled to rebuild his businesses, he was involved in politics. He became a high-ranking member of the Malaysian Chinese Association, which gave him the platform to build ties.
